Cardi B goes viral in Saudi Arabia after praising kingdom during Riyadh performance

U.S. rapper Cardi B has gone viral in Saudi Arabia following her high-profile performance at Riyadh’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm festival, where she openly praised the kingdom in a series of widely shared social media posts.

The Grammy-winning artist was one of the headline performers at the festival, one of the region’s largest music events, held as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand its entertainment sector and diversify its economy beyond oil. In videos posted to Instagram, Cardi B expressed admiration for the country’s modern infrastructure, describing it as appearing “brand new.”

Known for her explicit lyrics and bold stage persona, the rapper adopted a noticeably restrained tone during the performance. She avoided her most graphic language and wore a flowing outfit that covered her from neck to toe, a departure from her usual stage attire. In the days leading up to the concert, Cardi B also shared videos from luxury shopping malls in Riyadh and was seen wearing a hijab while praising the city’s opulence.

Her appearance comes amid Saudi Arabia’s increasing investment in global entertainment as part of its Vision 2030 reform agenda, which has attracted major international celebrities despite ongoing criticism from human rights groups.

Cardi B’s Saudi performance followed her recent legal victory in the United States, where she was cleared of an assault allegation in a $24 million civil case. Her visit adds to a growing list of Western celebrities who have performed in the Gulf region in recent years, including Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion and Eminem.